Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-20
OUR OSTRICHES.
1 ssHerald" Man Visits the
washington Garden Farm.


Washington Garden was visited yes.
terday afternoon by q vast throng of
people who had been lured there by the
tempting advertisements published by
its proprietors, and il they came there
for pleasure they we're not disappointed
as an excellent programme had bsen
provided. Meine's military band dis
coursed sweet music 10 enIertaln the
ear, while for visual pleasure the zoolog
ical collection furnished ample satifac-
tion. One of the most charming
features of this popular resort is the
aviary which contains choice and
varied selection of birds, most of which
have been obtained from China and the
East Indies. OF course the ostriche:
formed the principal attraction and the
courtly proprietors were kept busy
answering the many questions pro.
pounded by curious and interested
visitors. The plumage on the birds is
rapidly approaching that stage when
they will be shorn to supply the re.
quirements of those who consider
ostrich feathers "the thing" in fact one
of the birds was plucked yesterday and
another will probably undergo the
ordeal to-day. 1t will be two months
more though before the majority of the
feathers are in the stage of required fit.
ness and then the proprietors expect to
reap handsome revenue for their en-
terprise. The average gross receipts
from each bird is $500 every seven
months, about so large plumes being OBJ.
tanned from the wings and about II
ounces of body feathers. One wing
feather alone was stated to have been
sold for S45. The incubator, manufac-
tured at Petaluma, is in full blast and In
six weeks more brood of chicks is ex-
pected. 1t is kept at an uniform tenn
perature of l030, and as each full grown
bird is worth about $1,000 there is no
doubt but that all the vigilance possible
is being observed. As curious fact
about the endurance of the ostrich as
applied to its powers of abstemiousness,
it was stated by the proprietors that one
of the birds, at present on view, went
without any food whatever during six
weeks of its transit from Africa here.
Besides the ostriches there is mis-.
cellaneous collection of coyotes, wild
cats, eagles, snakes, etc., and all seem
to be doing well and are ap-
parently contented with their
lot with the exception of a
lately captured coyote, who is thrown
into state of the widest alarm by the
nearest approach of anything bearing
the slightest resemblance to humanity.
A gentleman bearing evident traces of
fatigue was noticed to seat himself on
what was apparently an empty box. but
the look of composure had scarcely had
time to adorn his features, when he sud-
denly gave spring and struck out in a
bee line for pastures new," and big
bead drops of fear started on his brow.
The scribe, in pursuit OF information, at
once proceeded TO investigate the affair,
when he discovered that the gentleman's 5
sudden anxiety for violent exercise was
owing to the fact that the box contained
rattlesnake. 1t was matter of i'm
possibility for him to have been hurt, as
there was an inch of solid timber encas-
ing the reptile all round, but the music
of the rattles had evidently no charms
for him, and he sought temporary
refuge in the casino which is attached to
the grounds.
There is no doubt but that ostrich
farming is proving successful industry,
and to Los Angeles county is to be az
credited the honor of first introducing
this enterprise into our republic. If the
rumors with which the air is laden be
true, there will soon be branch farm
located in the vicinity of Pasadena, and
Mr.. Cawston states that he is already on
the qui vive for desirable land for that
purpose.